Internet Desk : Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza suffered a rare defeat in doubles as India lost their Group A Fed Cup contest 1-2 to Japan, here today. Even though Sania lost her doubles , Ankita Raina recorded the biggest win of her career by beating world number 56 Nao Hibino .
Ankita, India’s number one singles player at 307, took the court after Prarthana Thombare had lost the opening singles. Battling the odds, Ankita toppled the world number 56 with her 6-3 6-1 win over the Japanese number one.
Prarthana, ranked as low as 523, had lost tamely 2-6 1-6 to Eri Hozumi, placed 206, as India trailed 0-1.
Ankita though drew parity for Indian with her shock win. India, at that point, had a real chance to upset the fancied Japan with having world number one player in Sania in the team.
However, Sania and Prarthana lost 5-7 3-6 to the pairing of Shuko Aoyama and Hozumi. Aoyana was ranked as high as 31 in the doubles in 2013.
India have already lost to hosts Thailand 0-3 on Wednesday and now they are out of the reckoning for the Play-offs for the World Group II.
India will take on Uzbekistan in their last Group engagement tomorrow.